Step



April 4, 1939.

A. HENDERSON 2,153,017

STEP

Filed May 23, 1958 2 Shets-Sheet 1 [I I I I I I INVENTOR Albert Henderson fiTTOR NE YS April 1939- A. HENDERSON 2,153,017

STEP

Filed May 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 31 Albert Henderson flTTORNElS Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE STEP Application May 23, 1938, Serial No. 209,485

3 Claims.

This invention relates to steps and, in particular, to a construction thereof whereby various forms and sizes of steps can be erected from a relatively small number of standard elements.

In accordance with the invention I employ building blocks of standard dimensions for the erection of the cheeks. I utilize precast slabs to form the treads and risers. In order to permit a variety of types and sizes of steps to be constructed, I design the slabs so that their Width, length and thickness have predetermined relations to the dimensions of the blocks, or their fractions.

The invention also contemplates means for supporting the tread slabs intermediate the cheeks, from the riser extending upwardly therefrom.

The accompanying drawings referred to in the following detailed description illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention with certain modifications. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of steps which may be constructed by my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a slight form of modified construction;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the tread or riser slabs;

Fig. 5 is a similar View from the tread slab 30 used in modified form shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a partial section along the line VI-VI of Fig. 2 illustrating a detail;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a supporting element shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and, for the present, to Figs. 1 and 2, the construction of steps according to my invention comprises a pair of cheeks l0 and II extending outwardly from a wall 2. The checks I0 and II rest on footings l3 and each comprises a plurality of courses M, I 5, l6 etc. of similar blocks IT. AS shown in Fig. 1, each of the courses I 5, l6, etc., terminates short of the end of the course therebelow. In the specific form shown, the joints of adjacent courses are so staggered that one-half of the top face of the end block in each course is exposed.

Precast slabs 68 such as that shown in Fig. 4 are made up in suitable lengths with reenforcing bars i9 embedded therein. The length of the slabs l8 should be equal to an integral multiple of the length of the blocks composing the Wall l2 plus an integral multiple of one-fourth of the length of said blocks. As will be apparent from the examination of Fig. 2, the blocks composing the wall l2 are similar to those forming the cheeks l0 and II so that the over-all length of the slabs to form the treads and risers of the steps shown in Figs. 1 and 2 should be equal to four times the length of the blocks composing the wall l2. Since half and quarter blocks may also be employed in the wall l2, the slabs l8 may be provided in lengths adapted to such fractions.

The slabs l8 are disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to form risers 20 and treads 2i. The thickness of the slabs is approximately one-fourth the height of the blocks H and one-eighth of their length. In a specific example, the blocks are approximately 8 x 8" x 16" and the slabs are 2" x 8" and of any suitable length. The slabs are mortared to the blocks l1 exposed at the ends of the several courses l4, I5, l6 etc. in the same manner as the blocks themselves are mortared to each other but no attempt has been made in the drawings to illustrate the mortared joints.

A modified form of steps shown in Fig 3 is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 except that the exposed portion of the blocks I! at the end of each of the courses 22, 23, 24 etc. is three-fourths of the length of the block. A quarter block 25 is employed to fill out the bottom portion 22 as the joints of the second course are staggered centrally between those of the first course while the joints of the third course are staggered at the quarter points between the joints of the second course.

Slabs 26 which are similar to the slabs I8 form treads of the steps shown in Fig. 2 in position on the exposed blocks of the several courses as indicated at 21. The slabs 26 are of the same thickness as the slabs 18 but are wider by half, being approximately 2" x 12".

In order to support the inner edges of the treads 2| and 2'! intermediate the cheeks, I provide straps 28 shown in Figs. 6 and 7. These straps have a bent-over end 29 adapted to enter a notch 30 in the upper edge of the risers 20. They also have their lower end bent over as at 3| to support the adjacent edge of the tread therebelow.

A modified form of device for accomplishing this result is shown in Fig. 8 and comprises nuts 32 embedded in the risers but being strung on one of the reenforcing bars I!) thereof by means of Is 33 integral with the nuts. Openings 34 formed by any suitable means extend inwardly from the lower edge of the tread in alinement with the nut 32, thus permitting a plate 35 to be clamped against the bottom of the adjacent edge of the tread 21 by means of a bolt 36.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the invention provides a simple and inexpensive construction of steps which is capable of considerable variation to provide steps of different designs and dimensions as may be required by special conditions in any given case. In addition, I also provide means for supporting the inner edge of each tread from the riser extending upwardly therefrom. It will be readily apparent that the construction described is particularly adapted for use with buildings composed of concrete blocks, although it may also be employed with other types of buildings.

While I have illustrated and described herein but a preferred embodiment of the invention with certain modifications, it will be recognized that changes in the details of the construction described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Steps comprising a pair of cheeks each made up of a plurality of courses of blocks, each course terminating short of the next course below, and separate treads and risers in the form of precast slabs resting on the exposed portions of the end blocks in corresponding courses of the two cheeks, and means carried on each riser intermediate said cheeks for supporting the tread adjacent the lower edge of said riser.

2. Steps comprising a pair of cheeks, each made up of a plurality of courses of blocks, each course terminating short of the next course below, and separate treads and risers in the form of precast slabs resting on the exposed portions of the end blocks in corresponding courses of the two cheeks, the length of the blocks, the height of the blocks, and the width of the slabs being substantially multiples of the thickness of the slabs.

3. Steps comprising a pair of cheeks, each made up ofa plurality of courses of blocks, each course terminating short of the next course below, and treads and risers in the form of precast slabs resting on the exposed portions of the end blocks in corresponding courses of the two cheeks, and a strap associated with .each riser and a tread, each strap being hooked over the top of a riser between the cheeks, passing around the back of the riser, and then under the riser and tread to form an additional support for the tread at the 25 

